CVE-2024-51707 in WP Visual Adverts Plugin
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2024
Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation (XSS or 'Cross-site Scripting') vulnerability in Webcodin WP Visual Adverts allows Reflected XSS.This issue affects WP Visual Adverts: from n/a through 2.3.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/28/2025
This vulnerability represents a classic reflected cross-site scripting flaw that exploits improper input sanitization during web page generation within the Webcodin WP Visual Adverts plugin. The vulnerability exists in the plugin's handling of user-supplied input parameters that are directly reflected back to users without adequate sanitization or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that, when executed in a victim's browser, can perform unauthorized actions on their behalf. The issue affects versions of the plugin ranging from the initial release through version 2.3.0, indicating a long-standing flaw that has persisted across multiple iterations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category for cross-site scripting and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1584.002 for exploitation through web application vulnerabilities. The reflected nature of the XSS means that malicious input is immediately reflected back to the user without being stored on the server, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the plugin's failure to properly neutralize user input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web content. When users interact with the plugin's interface or when malicious input is passed through URL parameters, the system does not adequately escape or encode special characters that could be interpreted as HTML or JavaScript code. This allows attackers to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of the victim's browser session. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates through reflected data flows where the malicious input is processed by the server and immediately returned to the user, making it an ideal vector for social engineering attacks. The impact extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enabling session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. This flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices and violates fundamental web security principles for handling user-supplied data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability creates significant risk for WordPress site administrators and end users who rely on the WP Visual Adverts plugin for advertising management. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in victims' browsers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to administrative functions, data exfiltration, or redirection to phishing sites. The reflected nature of the attack means that victims must be tricked into clicking malicious links, but once executed, the attack can persist for the duration of the browser session or until the malicious payload is executed. This vulnerability undermines the security model of the web application by allowing attackers to bypass client-side security controls and execute malicious code within the context of legitimate user sessions. The persistence across multiple versions suggests that the development team may have overlooked proper input sanitization mechanisms, creating an ongoing risk for all affected installations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of the affected plugin to version 2.3.1 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Administrators should also implement additional security measures including content security policies that restrict script execution and regular monitoring of plugin updates. Input validation should be strengthened through proper escaping of special characters and implementation of whitelisting mechanisms for user inputs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and implementing comprehensive input validation at all points where user data enters the application. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their WordPress installations and ensure that all plugins are kept up-to-date with the latest security patches. The ATT&CK framework suggests that this vulnerability should be monitored through network traffic analysis and web application firewalls to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper security headers and establishing a robust patch management process can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation.